About the book
Toxoplasma gondii is a heterogenous protozoan parasite found in virtually all animal species and billions of latently infected people worldwide. Toxoplasmosis may result in lifelong impairment or death in a human host with a weakened immune system, such as an unborn child or newborn, or an AIDS patient. T. gondii may be transferred by contact with cat feces. This was formerly thought to be the most common mode of infection in humans. Subsequent studies with mouse and Felidae models revealed that T. gondii bradyzoites inside intracellular cysts in muscle and brain tissue are considerably more infectious than the oocyst shape discharged in cat feces. This suggests that eating contaminated animal products may also have a significant influence on the world's high prevalence of toxoplasmosis infection. T. gondii immunity is a complicated process that involves both innate and adaptive immune responses. T. gondii has been utilized as a model system pathogen to research macrophage function, cell-mediated immunity, dendritic cells, and the gut-associated immune response. Parasitic manipulation of host behavior is often exploitative, as parasites seek rewards such as food, shelter, or use as a gateway to another host. T. gondii, for example, has been found to change rats' inherent aversion to cat scents, enhancing its chances of transmission. A rising body of research suggests a statistical link between persistent infection and neurological diseases that contribute to behavioral and psychological issues in healthy people. T. gondii has been linked to mental illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
This book is the culmination of six chapters. We hope that the chapters will serve as concise summaries of the present status of the research on T. gondii, allowing for simple access to studies on it. The scientific community's active cooperation was vital in bringing this initiative to fruition. We anticipate that the finished result will be a valuable resource for academics interested in studying T. gondii or using it as a model eukaryotic pathogen.
